The Cat Returns was releases in on July 20th, 2002. It is directed by Hiroyuki Morita and written by Reiko Yoshida from an original concept by Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the story of Haru Yoshioka (Anne Hathaway), a quiet, shy teenage girl who becomes engaged to Prince Lune (Andrew Bevis) of the magical Cat Kingdom, after saving him from being run over by a car.
This film is a about a young girl who gets swept up in a magical world, meets a dashing young prince, and becomes a kind of hero in the process. If this sounds familiar its because
The Cat Returns, maybe more then any film I've seen aside from
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, evokes old fairy tales and children's fantasy stories. The Brothers Grimm, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Lewis Carrol, Frank Baum, P.L. Travers, this film recalls the works of all these authors in one way or another. What impressed me the most was its portrayal of the fantastical elements of the world. The Cat Kingdom feels like a natural part of this world, one lying right on the periphery of human
perception. Consequently, and in the tradition of great fairy tales, the line between fantasy and reality is often blurred
.
The main thrust of the story is Haru's gaining of confidence in herself (yet another pervasive fantasy trope). At the beginning of the film we see that she is ridiculed by her classmates after arriving late for school. When she saves Prince Lune and the Cat King (Tim Curry) offers her a place in his kingdom she is, at first, tempted to say yes, as it would be an escape from her troubles. This changes, of course, when she learns that she must also marry the prince. Obeying instructions from a mysterious voice, Haru goes to the Cat Bureau, where she meets The Baron (Cary Elwes) a cat figurine brought to life by the his creator. The Baron agrees to help her get out of the marriage, but the King's agents arrive at the bureau and carry her away. In the end, she stands up to the king herself, finally showing some initiative. Her experiences have taught her to take responsibility for her actions.
The animation is wonderful, as one would expect from a Studio Ghibli film. It may not be as breathtaking as
Spirited Away or
Princess Mononoke and the character are much more "cartoonish" and simplistic then most of Ghibli's output but, in many ways, that fits the story their telling. This is a lighthearted faerie story, not an epic. The animators do a good job making the world of the film (both the real world and the Cat Kingdom) alive and populated. The way the characters move is particularly striking. Some standout scenes include a chase scene, where Haru is carried of by a large group of cats and pursued by the Baron and Toto, and a scene later on where Haru, the Baron and Muta descend from the sky on a flock of crows, summoned by Toto, who act as a staircase.
The cast (I saw the english dub) all do a good job. Anne Hathaway displays the right mixture of awkwardness and pluck as Haru. Cary Elwes is perfectly cast as the swashbuckling Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (a character originally conceived in
Whisper of the Heart). Peter Boyle is a hoot as the lazy, overweight but ultimately heroic Muta. Tim Curry is absolutely despicable as the Cat King. Morita's direction is also impressive, as he slowly introduces the fantasy elements, making them feel more natural and earned, and gradually increases the sense of danger for Haru giving the film a lighter, less menacing tone then many of its counterparts.
The Cat Returns may not be as stunning a piece of animation as many of its Studio Ghibli counterparts but it more then makes up for it with its sheer whimsy, imagination, and sense of adventure.
Score: 9/10
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